Minutes of the Academy. 
Ixxxiii 
in preparation. The miscellaneous collection of sculptured stones, for- 
merly heaped on the floor, has been arranged and built into dwarf- walls 
dividing the south side of the crypt into four bays or compartments : 
the sculptured faces form the wall-surfaces, and are now seen to advan- 
tage. On the north side the position of the framework supporting the 
collection of ancient Canoes has been altered so as to allow access to the 
north wall of the crypt, on which are now ranged the casts and moulds 
from ancient crosses and other monumental objects. When proper 
arrangements shall have been made for heating, and improving the ap- 
proach to, this apartment, it is expected that it will constitute a valua- 
ble and very interesting addition to the general Museum. 
Eesides the Windele collection of ogham-inscribed monuments, the 
Academy has acquired during the year a fine bronze shield, which will 
be described in the forthcoming number of the Proceedings, and also 
several additions to its miscellaneous Irish antiquities. 
In laying before the Government the usual annual statement of the 
requirements of the Academy, we thought it right to repeat our action 
of last year by appending to the ordinary estimate several supple- 
mentary items. These are as follows : — For the cost of attendance and 
general expenses necessary in order fully to open to the public our 
Museum Collections, £200 ; for the publication of materials prepared 
by aid of the grant for Eesearches in connexion with Celtic Manu- 
scripts, £200 ; to complete the price of the Smith Collection of Coins, 
£81 8s. "Jd. ; and for the purchase of the Ardagh Chalice and Brooches, 
£500. The last of these amounts was fixed in consequence of an offer 
made to us by the Right Rev. Bishop Butler to sell the objects referred 
to, to the Academy, for the sum named, which the Museum Committee 
reported to be a reasonable price. "When that offer reached us, we at 
once resolved, without waiting for the result of our application to the 
Government, to recommend to the Academy the purchase of the 
Chalice and Brooches, and to request from you the same discretion as 
to the financial arrangements which would be necessary for the pur- 
pose, as you accorded us in the case of the Smith Collection of Coins. 
But, when just about to adopt this course, we were informed that a 
controversy had arisen respecting the ownership of these objects, and 
that the question whether they came under the description of Treasure 
Trove was under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. In 
the discussion of these matters we have remained entirely neutral, but 
we have been obliged to suspend our action for the purchase of the 
Chalice and Brooches until some decision is arrived at respecting them. 
The first part of the lithograph edition of Leabhar Breac has been 
issued, and received with general satisfaction. The second part, com- 
pleting the work, is in active progress, and will, we trust, be published 
within a few months. Every eftbrt has been made to ensure perfect 
accuracy ; and each page, before being printed off, is most carefully 
examined by Mr. O'Longan and Mr. O'Looney. An arrangement has 
been entered into for the production of a facsimile copy of the Book 
